Subscribe! Subscribe to our blog and get daily digital marketing insights right in your inbox!

The Essentials of Content Readability

Engaging, easy-to-digest content is the heart of what keeps your readers interested. But, what are the hallmarksof a perfectly crafted piece of copy that snags your audience’s attention and keeps them engrossed to the very last word?

Well, the team of content connoisseurs at Stream Companies is here to give you the lowdown on the essentials of content readability. Before long, you’ll be churning out attention-snagging copy that’s designed to keep your audience immersed from start to finish.

1.) Snag Your Reader with a Hook

Since the dawn of smartphones, readers’ attention spans have been growing shorter. That’s why it’s important to hook your audience with a focus-grabbing factoid or resounding quote.

Once you’ve engaged your audience, they’re more likely to read the remainder of your content. Let’s take a look at some of the most effective ways to hook your customers and increase your content’s readability:

Statistics

By utilizing statistics at the beginning of an article, you can surprise your audience with something they weren’t aware of.

Prompt your reader to imagine a scenario. This allows them to envision themselves in a situation where your information or product would help them.

Quotes

Kicking off your content with a quote that resonates with your audience helps to lay the groundwork for the rest of your article.

2.) Write Skimmable Content

Imagine it: Your customer is browsing the Internet looking for quick instructions on how to complete a task. The content they’re most likely to choose is something that contains a quick list rather than paragraphs of information.

Why? Because roughly 79 percent of people scan web pages, you want to make sure that they can absorb the majority of your content in a short time span. The best way to do that is to utilize a few simple techniques while crafting your copy:

Subheads

By subheading your article, your audience will know exactly which sections of your page contain the information they need. That way, they won’t have to search through a whole page to find what they’re looking for.

Bullets

If your content is listable, go ahead and stick a few bullets into your content. Not only does this break up larger paragraphs, but it also allows your readers to pick out the facts that are most relevant to their needs.

Whitespace

While it may sound counterintuitive, whitespace is an essential component of content readability. Instead of arriving onto a cluttered web page, your audience will scroll through an article that’s pleasing to the eye and easily digestible.

3.) Use Clear Language

One of the top essentials of content readability is to use concise language throughout your copy. By simplifying your language, you’ll make your article more accessible to a wider audience.

For example, repeating the same information using different words is a common mistake found in content that isn’t quite as readable as others.

In addition, the passive voice makes your copy long-winded and difficult-to-read. Instead, make sure that the subject of your sentence is doing the action. As a result, your audience can more efficiently understand the point you’re trying to make.

Create Readable Content Today!

Congrats! You’re now more familiar with the essentials of content readability. The next step is to join the team of content-crafting experts at Stream Companies, your fully integrated advertising agency.

With the assistance of our creative masters, you’ll be equipped with an advertising strategy that’s readable and accessible for your ideal customer. All you have to do to get started is contact our team today! Then, we’ll help you design copy that utilizes all the most important rules of content readability.

Go With The Flow

About Stream Co.

Stream Companies is a fully integrated advertising agency based outside of Philadelphia, PA. With over 20 years of experience, we're the largest ad agency in the region, offering a full service approach and customized ad solutions.

Stream Companies is a fully integrated advertising agency based outside Philadelphia, PA. With more than 20 years of experience, Stream is one of the leading ad agencies in the region, offering a full-service approach and customized ad solutions.